Career Robber Sentenced for Robbery of Ice Cream Store in Central West End

St. Louis, MO – Rodney Gardner, 52, St. Louis, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for robbing Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.  He appeared in federal court this morning before U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber. 

According to court documents, on March 6, 2018, Gardner entered the Central West End ice cream shop and posed as a customer before he demanded that employees hand over money from the cash register.  Gardner punched one employee multiple times in the face, breaking her nose, grabbed the cash register, and ran from the store.  Police officers arrested him after a brief foot chase. 

Gardner pled guilty on June 12, 2018 to one felony count of Hobbs Act robbery.

This case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. Roy is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.